JP2004054497A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer that enables the reservation number, etc., of a document transmitted from a mail server without full-time access to the Internet to be received via another route. <P>SOLUTION: The printer performs a printing process when receiving a print document via e-mail. A control part 11 provides information about the processed condition of the received document to at least one destination having a different mail address from the sender of the document. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer device that receives a document to be printed by e-mail and performs processing for printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printers have been developed which transmit a document to be printed by e-mail, receive the document, and print the document. Such a printer is used, for example, for the purpose of allowing a user to print from an office to an office printer. For this reason, if a document to be printed is received and printed immediately, the printed matter of the user is left on the tray of the printer device until the user returns from a place where he / she is away from home. May be taken away.
[0003]
Conventionally, in such a printer device, when a document is received, a unique identifier (reservation number) is issued, and the reservation number is returned to the user (source of the document) by e-mail. It is considered (Patent Document 1). According to this technology, after a user comes to a place where the printer device is installed, the received reservation number is input to the printer device. Perform print processing.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-296985A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, for example, when the user is away from home, the transmission of the document is performed as follows. That is, a user first accesses an Internet provider using a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) or the like, and prints from a mail server (for example, an SMTP server; Simple Mail Transfer Protocol server) assigned by the provider. Send an e-mail containing the document. Here, communication using PHS or the like is not always connected, and at present, many users disconnect their lines after completing transmission of an e-mail.
[0006]
Therefore, when the reservation number is returned to the transmission source of the document as in the above-described conventional printer, the user accesses the mail server (for example, POP server; Post Office Protocol server) of the provider again. You will need to receive a reservation number email. However, from the transmission of the document to the return of the reservation number, not only the time required for processing on the printer device side, but also a delay due to communication from the provider to the printer device occurs. For this reason, after transmitting the document, the user needs to check whether a mail has arrived from the printer some time later.
[0007]
That is, in the process of returning the reservation number as in the above-described conventional printer, consideration is not sufficient in a case where it takes time to access the mail server.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of receiving a reservation number or the like for a document transmitted from a mail server that is not always connected through another route. One.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for solving the problems of the above-described conventional example is a printer device that receives a document to be printed by e-mail and performs a process for printing. At least one contact different from the address is notified of information regarding the processing status of the document.
[0010]
Further, according to the present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example, a means for holding a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information in accordance with a notification previously received from a user side, Means for receiving the target document and performing processing for printing; and at least one address different from the source address held in association with the source address of the document, Means for transmitting processing information relating to the processing status.
[0011]
Here, a means for receiving the instruction for updating the held address information and updating the address information in accordance with the instruction, and when the update is performed, a plurality of means included in the address information before update Means for notifying that at least one of the addresses has been updated. Further, the means for retaining the address information retains, in association with each address included in the address information, property information relating to the property of an e-mail receivable at each address, and transmits the processing information. The means generates processing information for each destination address based on the property information associated with each address, and transmits the generated processing information to the corresponding destination addresses. Is also preferred. Further, it is preferable that the information on the processing status of the document is also transmitted to an address of a transmission source of the document.
[0012]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print service method for receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing a process for printing, wherein the print service method is different from a source address of the received document. The information on the processing status of the document is transmitted to one address.
[0013]
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print service method, comprising: using a printer device that stores a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information in accordance with a notification previously received from a user; Receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing a process for printing; and at least one address different from the source address, which is held in association with the source address of the document, Transmitting the processing information relating to the processing status of the document.
[0014]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, a printer device that receives a document to be printed by e-mail and performs a process for printing is provided with at least one address different from the source address of the received document. To send information on the processing status of the document.
[0015]
Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for storing a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information according to a notification previously received from a user, Receiving the document and performing a process for printing, and processing the document with respect to at least one address different from the source address, which is held in association with the source address of the document. And transmitting the processing information on the situation to the computer.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, an operation unit 14, a print processing unit 15, and an external storage device 16. It is composed of
[0017]
The control unit 11 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 12, and executes a process of receiving a document to be printed by e-mail, a print process, and a communication process of reporting the processing status of the document. . Here, the process of receiving the document to be printed and the printing process are substantially the same as those of the related art, and thus detailed description is omitted. The contact process will be described later in detail.
[0018]
The storage unit 12 stores a program executed by the control unit 11 and parameters necessary for processing the program. The storage unit 12 also operates as a work memory used when the control unit 11 processes a program. Here, the program is read from a computer-readable recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) by the external storage device 16 and installed. That is, generally, the program executed by the control unit 11 is distributed by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Specifically, the storage unit 12 stores information (address information) on contact information as parameters required for processing of the program. The address information includes at least one entry (E) in which a plurality of different e-mail addresses are associated with each other, as shown in FIG. 2, for example. Specifically, each entry has one of a plurality of e-mail addresses as a key e-mail address (key address; K), and at least one reply destination different from the key address for this key address. Is associated with the e-mail address (R).
[0019]
The communication unit 13 is connected to a network, sends data such as e-mail to a predetermined destination via the network, and receives data arriving via the network in accordance with an instruction input from the control unit 11. And outputs it to the control unit 11. The operation unit 14 is a keypad or the like that accepts a user's operation, and the content of the operation performed on this keypad is output to the control unit 11. The print processing unit 15 prints the contents of the document on a sheet according to an instruction input from the control unit 11. The external storage device 16 reads data from a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM, outputs the data to the control unit 11, and stores the read data in the storage unit 12 by an installation process of the control unit 11. Let it.
[0020]
Here, the content of the communication process of the control unit 11 will be specifically described. When the processing relating to the received document is in a predetermined state, the control unit 11 sets the e-mail address (hereinafter, referred to as a transmission source address) that has transmitted the document to a key of the address information stored in the storage unit 12. Search from addresses. When an entry having the transmission source address as a key address is found, an e-mail address associated with the key address of the entry is extracted, and predetermined information is transmitted to the extracted e-mail address.
[0021]
The information transmitted here may be, for example, the same reservation number as in the related art, or may include image data serving as a print preview. When there are a plurality of e-mail addresses associated with the key address, the control unit 11 sequentially selects the e-mail addresses according to a predetermined order instead of all of the plurality of e-mail addresses. The operation may be repeated such that the next e-mail address is selected, and the next e-mail address is selected and transmitted when an error occurs (for example, due to reception failure). Further, the control unit 11 may transmit the predetermined information to the transmission source address of the document, for example, when it is specified in advance by the user.
[0022]
Further, it is preferable that the address information stored in the storage unit 12 can be registered and updated according to an instruction from a user. Specifically, the control unit 11 also operates as a Web server, distributes a Web page that receives registration of address information, and a Web page that receives update of address information, and transmits information input in the Web page to a CGI (Common). A predetermined process is executed by accepting a widely known method such as a Gateway Interface program.
[0023]
For example, upon receiving a request for registering address information, the control unit 11 distributes a Web page having an interface as shown in FIG. 3 to the request source. This Web page has at least a field (A) for inputting a source address (key address), a field (B) for inputting at least one reply-to address (contact address) to be associated with the address, and "Registration". Button (C). It preferably also includes a field for inputting a password (including an input field for confirmation) (P). When the registration button is selected, the control unit 11 starts a corresponding registration program, accepts the key address and the reply-to address to be associated therewith, and associates the key address with the reply-to address to address information. Register as one of the entries. When a password is input, a password is stored in association with the entry.
[0024]
Further, in response to the request to update the address information, the control unit 11 distributes a Web page having an interface as shown in FIG. 4 to the request source. This Web page is provided with, for example, a field (D) for inputting a source address (key address) to be updated and a “login” button (E). When a password is set, , Password input column (Q). Here, when the “login” button is selected, the control unit 11 searches the current address information for an entry related to the input key address. Also, when a password is entered, the password associated with the entry found by the search is compared with the entered password, and if they do not match, the user is notified to that effect. The interface shown in FIG. 4 is presented again.
[0025]
When it is not necessary to enter a password, or when the entered password matches the password associated with the entry, the control unit 11 distributes a Web page having an interface as shown in FIG. Here, a column for displaying a transmission source address (key address) and a column (F) for setting a reply destination address to be registered in association with this key address are included. Also, a check box (G) for setting whether or not to send a mail regarding the processing status to the transmission source address which is a key address may be included. Here, when the “change” button (H) is selected, the control unit 11 associates the return address entered in the input field F with the key address entered at the time of login, and associates it with the entry before update. Overwrite and store. When the check box G is checked, the control unit 11 sends an e-mail notifying the processing status not only to the reply destination address input in the input field F but also to the key address.
[0026]
Further, when the address information is updated, the control unit 11 transmits an e-mail notifying that at least one of the e-mail addresses (for example, a key address) included in the entry relating to the update has been updated. Is also preferred.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the printer according to the present embodiment will be described. The user accesses the printer apparatus of the present embodiment in advance and associates the e-mail address (for example, “e-mail address 1”) of the provider with the Web page shown in FIG. An address, for example, a mail address (here, “mail address 2”) set in the own mobile phone or the like is set as a reply destination address. As a result, an entry having “mail address 1” as a key address and a reply address as “mail address 2” is added to the address information.
[0028]
For example, the user connects to the provider from a remote location by PHS or the like, transmits a document to be printed from the mail server of the provider to the printer, and disconnects the connection to the provider. The printer receives the mail including the document as attached data. The source address of this mail is set to “mail address 1”. The control unit 11 of the printer device starts processing of the document received by e-mail, and when a predetermined state (for example, a printable state) is reached, starts a process of notifying the user of the fact.
[0029]
The control unit 11 searches the address information for an entry that associates another address with the source address “mail address 1” of the received mail as a key address. Then, since the reply-to address “mail address 2” is found, the control unit 11 sends an e-mail notifying the processing state to the “mail address 2”.
[0030]
As a result, the user is notified of the processing state by the mobile phone, and can know that printing is possible without connecting to the provider again. Here, the contact is an e-mail address, but any other contact, such as a telephone number or a FAX number, may be used as long as the user can receive it.
[0031]
According to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to explicitly specify the reply destination every time, so that the convenience is high and there is no inconvenience due to forgetting the setting. In addition, even in a device that does not have a reply destination designation function, such as a mailer mounted on a portable device, a reply destination can be set, and a highly convenient service can be provided regardless of the use environment.
[0032]
[Second embodiment]
In the above description, when information related to the processing status such as the reservation number is received by a plurality of different e-mail addresses, no consideration is given to the difference in the mail system for each address. However, for example, in the case of a mail system using a mobile phone system, there are cases where the contents of receivable e-mail are limited. Therefore, a printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which takes into account differences between mail systems, will be described below.
[0033]
The printer according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the printer according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the contents of the program and address information stored in the storage unit 12 Therefore, the content of the processing in the control unit 11 is slightly different.
[0034]
That is, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, each entry of the address information includes, as shown in FIG. 6, a key address (K), information (Kt) relating to receivable electronic mail properties, a reply destination address (R), , And a password (P) required for updating them. Further, for each reply destination address (R), information (Rt) relating to the property of the e-mail receivable by the reply destination address is associated. Here, the information on the property of the e-mail includes the number of characters that can be received, the setting of whether or not to receive the preview image at the return destination address when receiving the preview image after print processing, and the preview. When an image is received, the format of the image data and the setting of the upper limit of the data size are set. In the present embodiment, the reply destination address (R) may or may not be included.
[0035]
Further, in the present embodiment, the content of the communication process of the control unit 11 is different. That is, when the process regarding the received document is in a predetermined state, the control unit 11 searches for an entry using the transmission source address of the document as a key address, and obtains information (e.g., information about the property of the receivable e-mail included in the key address). Kt). Then, a process of generating the content of the e-mail to be transmitted to the key address is performed, and the content of the e-mail (corresponding to the processing information of the present application) suitable for the property of the receivable e-mail is generated.
[0036]
Further, when the entry obtained by the search includes a reply destination address, the control unit 11 determines, for each reply destination address, information (Rt ) And generate the contents of the e-mail. Then, the generated e-mail is transmitted to the key address and each reply destination address.
[0037]
Here, a description will be given of a process (mail content generation process) of generating the content of an email according to the properties of the receivable email. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 that performs this process determines whether a limit is set on the number of receivable characters (S1). If the limit is set (Yes), the number of characters The matching message is selected as a message to be transmitted (may be prepared in advance or may be generated by summarizing the original message or the like) (S2). If the limit on the number of characters that can be received is not set in the process S1 (if No), a normal message is selected as a message to be transmitted (S3). Then, the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is an instruction to attach a preview image (S4), and if there is no instruction (No), the process ends as it is. In step S4, if there is an instruction to attach the preview image (if Yes), the process of generating the preview image is started, and first, it is determined whether there is a limit on the size of the preview image (S5). . If there is a limit here (if Yes), the size of the image data to be generated is set to the specified size (S6). If there is no size limit in the process S5 (if No), the size set in advance as the default is set as the size of the image data (S7). Further, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the data format of the image is specified (S8), and if specified (Yes), sets the format of the image data to be generated based on the specified content. (S9).
[0038]
On the other hand, if the data format is not specified in the process S8 (if No), a default format (for example, JPEG format) is set (S10). Then, the control unit 11 generates image data of the preview image in the set size and format (S11), and ends the processing.
[0039]
After these processes, the control unit 11 transmits the selected message to be transmitted as the content of the e-mail to the corresponding e-mail address. If an instruction to attach a preview image is issued, the image data generated in step S11 is attached to a message to be transmitted to generate the content of an e-mail, and the generated content is transmitted to the corresponding electronic device. Send to an email address.
[0040]
According to the present embodiment, an e-mail with appropriate contents can be transmitted even when only a limited number of characters can be received, such as a mobile phone, or when only image data of a limited size can be received. The convenience of the person can be improved.
[0041]
In the first and second embodiments, the address information is stored in the storage unit 12. However, the address information is stored in a separately provided database server (not shown). May be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram illustrating a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connection state thereof.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of address information held by the printer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface screen for setting address information.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface screen when address information is changed.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an interface screen for setting a change content of address information.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of address information held by a printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of generating the content of an e-mail.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 control unit, 12 storage unit, 13 communication unit, 14 operation unit, 15 print processing unit, 16 external storage device.

Claims (9)

A printer device that receives a document to be printed by e-mail and performs processing for printing,
Notifying at least one contact address different from the email address of the source of the accepted document with information on the processing status of the document;
A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. Means for holding a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information in accordance with a notification received in advance from the user side;
Means for receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing processing for printing;
Means for transmitting processing information relating to the processing status of the document to at least one address different from the source address, which is held in association with the source address of the document;
A printer device comprising: The printer device according to claim 2, wherein
Means for receiving an instruction to update the held address information, and updating the address information according to the instruction;
Means for notifying that at least one of the plurality of addresses included in the address information before the update has been updated when the update has been performed;
A printer device further comprising: The printer according to claim 2, wherein:
The means for holding the address information, for each address included in the address information, holds the property information relating to the property of the email that can be received at each address,
The means for transmitting the processing information generates, for each destination address, processing information based on the property information associated with each address, and transmits the generated processing information to the corresponding destination address. Do
A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. The printer device according to claim 2, wherein:
A printer device for transmitting information on a processing status of the document to an address of a transmission source of the document. A print service method for receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing processing for printing,
Transmitting information on the processing status of the document to at least one address different from the source address of the received document;
A print service method, comprising: According to the notification received from the user side in advance, using a printer device that holds a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information,
Receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing a process for printing;
Transmitting processing information relating to the processing status of the document to at least one address different from the source address, which is held in association with the source address of the document;
And a print service method. A printer device that receives a document to be printed by e-mail and performs processing for printing,
Causing at least one address different from the source address of the accepted document to transmit information on the processing status of the document;
A program characterized by the following. On the computer,
According to a notification received in advance from the user side, a procedure of holding a plurality of different addresses in association with each other as address information,
A procedure for receiving a document to be printed by e-mail and performing processing for printing;
Transmitting, to at least one address different from the source address held in association with the source address of the document, processing information on the processing status of the document;
A program characterized by executing

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